Garden space is a luxury in Amsterdam, so it's a shame to build over part of a backyard for more living space. Watergraafsmeer-based firm <a href="http://www.cc-studio.nl/" target="_blank">CC-Studio</a> solved this conundrum with their beautiful <a href="http://www.cc-studio.nl/images/stories/GardenStudio.pdf" target="_blank">Garden Studio</a>, which is topped with sedum and makes use of mirrors to reflect light and greenery. The mirrors give the impression that both the studio and the garden are much larger than they are while creating a lovely view from the back of the home.

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Amsterdam Garden Studio-CC-Studio

Maarten and Lori Lens-FitzGerald wanted to expand their living space without sacrificing their yard, so they tasked <a href="http://www.cc-studio.nl/" target="_blank">CC-Studio</a> to come up with a plan.

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Amsterdam Garden Studio-CC-Studio

Replacing existing garden sheds in the back corners of the yard, CC-Studio's solution was rather unique.

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Amsterdam Garden Studio-CC-Studio

The new garden studio sits along the back boundary and provides space for a new sunny deck, an office that doubles as an extra room, and storage space.

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Amsterdam Garden Studio-CC-Studio

Sedum covers the roof and one side of the angular volume, while mirrors are used on the other facades.

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Amsterdam Garden Studio-CC-Studio

The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/green-roof/">living roof</a> and walls expand the garden by using space otherwise occupied by materials.

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Amsterdam Garden Studio-CC-Studio

Meanwhile the mirrors serve to reflect the garden making it seem larger than it really is.

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Amsterdam Garden Studio-CC-Studio

The mirrors also help to bounce light around the yard and direct it into the home and into otherwise shady spaces.

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Amsterdam Garden Studio-CC-Studio

Skylights on the roof pull natural light into the studio and the storage area.

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Amsterdam Garden Studio-CC-Studio

CC-Studio optimized the design by altering the angles of the mirrored facades to get the best results.

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Amsterdam Garden Studio-CC-Studio

They were aided by their colleagues at <a href="http://b29studios.nl/" target="_blank">B29 Studios</a> and <a href="http://www.ebontwerp.nl/" target="_blank">eb Ontwerp</a>, and the project was completed in March 2012.

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Amsterdam Garden Studio-CC-Studio

Wire model of the studio before construction and old sheds in the back.

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Amsterdam Garden Studio-CC-Studi

Construction of the garden studio.

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Amsterdam Garden Studio-CC-Studio

Floorplan of the garden studio.

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Amsterdam Garden Studio-CC-Studio

Garden space is a luxury in Amsterdam, so it's a shame to build over part of a backyard for more living space. Watergraafsmeer-based firm CC-Studio solved this conundrum with their beautiful Garden Studio, which is topped with sedum and makes use of mirrors to reflect light and greenery. The mirrors give the impression that both the studio and the garden are much larger than they are while creating a lovely view from the back of the home.